Trojans Overwhelm Bobcats, 92-71

ANDERSON, S.C. - Using an late first-half offensive surge that
carried over into the second half, the Anderson men's basketball
team rolled to its 20th win of the season, as the Trojans defeated
Lees-McRae, 92-71, in Conference Carolinas action Wednesday night
at the Abney Athletic Center.

The first half featured three ties and two lead changes as both
teams traded baskets through the opening 14 minutes of action with
neither squad able to gain more than a five-point advantage.

Guard Oskars Ernsteins' 3-pointer from deep in the left corner
with 7:08 left in the opening half gave the Trojans a lead they
would not relinquish, with AU edging out to a nine-point cushion
over the next four minutes. But the Bobcats chipped away with a 7-2
run and trimmed Anderson's lead to just 33-29 inside the final
minute on a basket from Adam McFerran. On the other end, Anderson's
Brandon Young answered with a buzzer-beating trey to set the 36-29
halftime margin.

Lees-McRae scored the first basket of the second half, but
Anderson's offensive momentum carried over into the second half as
the Trojans went on a 12-2 run to build a pair of 15-point leads
early in the half.

The double-digit cushion held strong for the rest of the game
with the lead growing to 83-55 late in the contest. , but the
Eagles chipped away at the deficit and eventually took the lead
back with 46 seconds remaining in the half.

Ernsteins and Taylor Shugart each scored 14 points, while
Shugart recorded a game-high six rebounds on the night. Brandon
Young added 12 points along with Trey Britton and Nick Trull came
off the bench to net 10 points with Young dishing out a game-high
five assists.